The Bible commands us to love one another and to pray for one another. One of the means which the church I attend uses to encourage this is to have the congregation on Sunday evenings form little groups of four or five to share prayer requests, and then to pray together for several minutes. This is also an excellent way to become acquainted with people I would not otherwise get to know. I enjoy these opportunities to pray together, though I frequently find it difficult, in a short time which we have, to single out just one need from the many which I have. Somehow my needs always seem to be the kind which require a great deal of explanation! But there is one need which I can always share, and which really covers every other need as well. This is to trust God more and to take more to heart the many promises in his Word.
The particular needs of my life at this point in time are like those many others face: the need my wife and I have to adjust to the way our life situation is changing as our children grow up and leave home; our concern for them that they may keep their hopes pinned on the living God; that we might be able to cope with whatever God has in store for us for the future; and that each of us might know just how God would have us serve him during the remainder of our lives.
God’s Word has many promises which cover these needs: “Surely goodness and lovingkindness shall pursue me all the days of my life;” “we know that in all things God is working for good with them who love him and are called according to his purpose;” “this God is our God forever and ever, he will be our guide even unto death;” “I will never leave you nor forsake you;” “my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” And of course there are many more. Intellectually, at least, I believe these promises, and in this column I have talked about them and about how completely reasonable it is to believe that God will do as he has promised.
All these reasons do strengthen faith, but the heart and the emotions do not always respond fully to reason. This is what I mean when I say that my greatest need is for God to help me to believe him more. According to Romans 15:13, the God of hope is to fill our hearts with all joy and peace in believing, that we might abound in hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. Frankly, I need to experience this “all joy and peace” and to abound in hope more than I do.
Dr. Henrietta Mears, the great Bible teacher and leader of young people—I think more that 500 went into the ministry through her influence—said near the end of her life that her greatest regret was that she had not trusted God more. So I know I am not alone in feeling this great need. When you pray for me, then, pray that I will have more faith, and I will pray the same for you.
Daniel P. Fuller
November 1973
Promises for the Battle 
Discussion
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